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Measure inspired by drunk-driving deaths of Danville children qualifies for November ballot

By Jeremy Thomas jethomas@bayareanewsgroup.com

Posted:
05/16/2014 06:49:59 AM PDT

Updated:
05/16/2014 12:33:30 PM PDT

DANVILLE -- A voter initiative spurred by the drunk-driving deaths of two Danville siblings in 2003 has garnered enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot, the Secretary of State's office said Thursday.

The Troy and Alana Pack Patient Safety Act, named for the son and daughter of Bob and Carmen Pack, would require random drug and alcohol testing of doctors and raise a $250,000 cap on pain and suffering damages victims can win in medical negligence lawsuits.

From left, Bob and Carmen Pack, of Danville, talk to Kiat Favro during their daughter's soccer practice in Danville, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013. A drunk driver, high on prescription pills, claimed the lives of Troy and Alana Pack, the only two children of Danville tech entrepreneur Bob Pack and his wife Carmen. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

"The patient safety protections in this ballot measure will save lives and protect families from dangerous, impaired and drug-dealing doctors," Bob Pack said in a news release. "Today, California voters have taken the first step in making sure that more families like mine don't have to experience the pain of losing a child due to dangerous medicine."

Troy and Alana, aged 10 and 7 respectively, were killed when they were struck while crossing a Danville street by a drunk and heavily-medicated driver. The driver, a nanny named Jimena Barreto, was later found to have been "doctor shopping" for prescription pills from several Walnut Creek physicians. A jury convicted Barreto of murder, and she was sentenced to 30 years to life.

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The initiative needed 504,760 valid petition signatures to qualify for the Nov. 4 ballot. Supporters turned in more than 840,000.